Free perch giveaway

[Sundancefisher]

Hi all.

We will be netting heavier this weekend at Lake Sundance. Last weekend was a good trial and we figured out it pays to make sure the net is placed properly... Good net set...1555 perch...bad net set 75 perch.

Anyways...I hope to have 4 nets set over the weekend. Pulling between 9 and 12 noon on Saturday and Sunday. Start and finishing timing will vary. I will definitely need help counting fish (I need exact counts per net). I also need lots of help bonking perch...kids welcome to bonk. Please bring your own bonking stick. I want perch killed as soon as possible upon hitting the shore.

All volunteers get first dibs on the bigger perch. Any perch left over can go to anyone for fertilizer...pig or chicken food...etc. If anyone wants perch regardless of size...please let me know. You will be golden and on speed dial.

I predict 4 nets should catch between 4000 and 6000 perch a day.

Cheers

Sun

[AdAMxr]

is this even legal???

[kostianych]

yes, it is...it`s a private lake and more over, it`s a trout stocking lake....no perch allowed anymore :)

[deanmc]

I wish I was closer.:cry:

[Sundancefisher]

I have kept F&W in the loop from the get go (many branches in fact). It is my conversations with them that had Sundance Lake added to the F&W Perch report. Everyone is keen to help control the problem... the issue is how to deal with the thousand of perch such that they are not wasted. Even small ones can be cooked and the skin peeled off. Small perch and parts can be used for excellent fertilizer (except dogs dig them up if allowed access). Large perch are also great eating.

Anyone know a Hutterite colony that wants to come pick some up for pig, chicken food or fertilizer or a delicious recipe of tender baby perch on legume shoots coated with a wasabe sauce...have them come out!

cheers

Sun

[slingshotz]

Do we need to bring waders to help haul the nets in or are you doing it with boats and such?

Are you bringing in all the nets at once or just starting with the first net at 9?

[deanmc]

I bet free perch would be great canned.:wave:

[laobei]

Hi Sundancefisher

If I want to be one of the volunteers, who should I contact? Should I just be there at 9 AM on Sunday? Do you have a gathering point?

I can pull the net or counting fish.

[Sundancefisher]

I would say that we will pull in one trap and drop off three people to carefully release any trout and to transfer any suckers, lake chub and perch into tubs. Depending upon volunteer numbers it will be done either consecutively or in tandem. Upon emptying the traps of fish we will redeploy the traps in the same location of Saturday morning but on Sunday we will pull them in, rinse them and store them for later.

While emptying the traps is not difficult is can be somewhat awkward as they are larger and there are lots of fish...

Still interesting and hey...lots of fish to take home afterwards.

Bring plenty of large garbage bags and/or buckets/tubs to take your fish home in.

We will just meet at the main parking lot at the entrance to Lake Sundance.

Cheers

Sun

[FishBrain]

See you Sat at 9!!

[ximmix2007]

This sounds like a fun day, would love to see some pics of how it all goes down.

[Sundancefisher]

check out this perch skinning tool.

Anyone ever see something like this before? WAY WAY COOL!!!!!

Watch the vid and check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxgTIhHKnRA

[elkfriend]

Where is Lake Sundance?

[FisherAlex]

That skinning tool is the cat's meow. Wonder where one would find such a tool.

[Badback]

Lake Sundance is located in S.E. Calgary...Take warm clothes with you just in case…I set the nets last week with Sundancefisher & Goldscud and it was windy and very very cold…Those of you who have not met Sundancefisher, he is easy to spot...He's about 6 foot 7 inches tall...lol

David

[deanmc]

check out this perch skinning tool.

Anyone ever see something like this before? WAY WAY COOL!!!!!

Watch the vid and check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxgTIhHKnRA

These are great. I have used one, if you use them on the belly bones before you skin them they pull the bones without any meat. They can be found on e-bay. They are called a "Townsend fish skinner".

[FisherAlex]

Awsome, thanx dean. I just ordered one off ebay. :cool:

[Sundancefisher]

Awsome, thanx dean. I just ordered one off ebay. :cool:

You better not of bought the last one... It was my idea...

In the immortal words of Seinfield's Soup Restaurant... NO PERCH FOR YOU!!!

[Sundancefisher]

http://www.lakesundance.org/

The address is on this website. Please check google earth for directions. I have a ton of people asking details and I can not get back to everyone.

Please note that netting will happen...pulling nets around 11 am Saturday morning and 10 am Sunday morning. Please bring your own bags for taking perch home. Also please consider taking small ones. They are still great eating...just more time consuming. Alternatively if you have no dogs at home they make great fertilizer in the garden...and once buried have no odour.

Cheers

Sun.

P.S. Waders can help. Rubber boots useful. Rain pants handy. Gloves good to have. Bonking stick a must!

Any perch taken IS NOT FOR SALE , BARTER OR MARKETING AND ONLY FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION ETC. We do not currently have a commercial licence...hense they are free! Tilapia costs $5.99/lb whole. Perch fillets are $15/pound when bought at a store so this is one great deal! Plus I can answer questions on fisheries research, netting techniques, perch fishing, biology, relationship problems, pizza ideas, weather related topics etc... :lol:

[troller]

Hey Sundance, just wondering, have you thought about contacting the zoo or other such places (bird rescue places?) to see if they wanted some of the perch for food? Not sure if it is feasible or not, just a thought that came to me while reading.

Have a great catch this weekend!

[Sundancefisher]

Hey Sundance, just wondering, have you thought about contacting the zoo or other such places (bird rescue places?) to see if they wanted some of the perch for food? Not sure if it is feasible or not, just a thought that came to me while reading.

Have a great catch this weekend!

Places I have thought of:

Calgary Zoo said no...fish to spiny
Wildlife rehab place...took fish all winter for pelican and other birds...very limited number needed
Fish fertilizer company...would net but kill lots of trout... Commercial permit most likely needed
Hutterites/farmers...pig and chicken feed...can't find or develope a contact
Tree farms...no return calls.
Charities...fresh fish great...but need them cleaned...probably need health check...
Commercial sale...need licence...we are in a gray area. Private lake...native fish. Perch are an incidental by catch of whitefish fishery. Problem people may assume illegal stocking will increase to allow for expanded fishery. Comment is we just want cost recovery to help with the problem...not make money. Lake Association is non profit and tax law forbids profit.
Individuals...want biggest ones...leaves us with disposing of lots of small ones...
Pet food...complicated...commercial permit most likely needed
Restocking use by F&W...unlikely as to problem with genetics...disease transfer etc.
Bass Pro Shops...for use in aquariums...very limited number needed

Any other suggestions...please offer and we can banter about on it! I am working closely with F&W on this as well. I would gladly trade data collected and learnings observed in exchange for cost recovery. Who knows...maybe on all those vandalized lakes...a little seed money can let a Fish and Game association buy similar nets and sell perch to save a trout fishery and recover costs.

Cheers

Sun

[FishBrain]

pulling at 11?
so what time would you like us to meet at the main gate?

[MathewsArcher]

Bear Bait??

[Sundancefisher]

pulling at 11?
so what time would you like us to meet at the main gate?

I can use lots of fish counters. So any time between 11 and noon on Saturday morning and 10 am and 11 am on Sunday.

Exact timing is always difficult when factoring volunteers, weather, gear, numbers of fish, numbers of volunteers etc.

[FishBrain]

ok well I will be a little early so we can get a start on it.
I got me fish bonker and ready to count

[chuck0039]

Sounds like everyone is in for a long but fun day. Any chance there are going to be some pictures posted of the event? from everything I have read it sounds very interesting, to bad I wasn't in Calgary to come out and help.

[Sundancefisher]

I am trying to keep this confidential and secret so no one say anything to anyone and that means no pictures!



:D


Just kidding... Bring a camera... If I am in the picture it will cost ya :lol: cause I am just that famous :love:

[Unregistered user]

Geez, 27 posts and no-one whining! There's a lot of love in this room, I can feel it. Will try to make it there, sounds like fun.

[winged1]

Definately beart bait. Hope to make it by.

[troller]

Places I have thought of:

Calgary Zoo said no...fish to spiny
Wildlife rehab place...took fish all winter for pelican and other birds...very limited number needed
Fish fertilizer company...would net but kill lots of trout... Commercial permit most likely needed
Hutterites/farmers...pig and chicken feed...can't find or develope a contact
Tree farms...no return calls.
Charities...fresh fish great...but need them cleaned...probably need health check...
Commercial sale...need licence...we are in a gray area. Private lake...native fish. Perch are an incidental by catch of whitefish fishery. Problem people may assume illegal stocking will increase to allow for expanded fishery. Comment is we just want cost recovery to help with the problem...not make money. Lake Association is non profit and tax law forbids profit.
Individuals...want biggest ones...leaves us with disposing of lots of small ones...
Pet food...complicated...commercial permit most likely needed
Restocking use by F&W...unlikely as to problem with genetics...disease transfer etc.
Bass Pro Shops...for use in aquariums...very limited number needed

Any other suggestions...please offer and we can banter about on it! I am working closely with F&W on this as well. I would gladly trade data collected and learnings observed in exchange for cost recovery. Who knows...maybe on all those vandalized lakes...a little seed money can let a Fish and Game association buy similar nets and sell perch to save a trout fishery and recover costs.

Cheers

Sun

Wow!!!! That's great Sundance!!! I see you are about 20 steps ahead of me :lol:. I'll just go back to reading the thread :o:D

I can look into a hutterite contact if you net again at a later date.

[Huntar]

Just found out you have to be a member of the lake, to bad would have liked to help please put in more details next time would been a big waste of time>>.

[bucktaker]

think they are doing it again tomorrow. Man that was a lot of fish today lol

[baitfisher83]

sucks that you have to be a member, if i had a car i'd definitely be there for this...since my dad cant go fishing until tuesday..lol

[bucktaker]

you do not have to be a member. Sundancefisher will get u in. There is a big sign out front of the lake looking for volunteers also. bunch of us today. it was different :lol:

[Unregistered user]

what was the count?

[bucktaker]

we counted about 2800 perch today. That is a lot of fish..

[slingshotz]

I think Sundance plans on pulling in nets again on Sun at 10am so if you didn't get a chance to help out you can again tomorrow, just tell the front desk you are helping out and they'll let you in. We buried about 200 little guys in our garden and I'll probably be back tomorrow as that wasn't even close to fertilizing all of our small garden.

Got about 40 of the larger ones in the smoker right now :)

[Huntar]

Ok i had called to get an address and the lady that anwsered said they will not let in non members it is a bit of a drive so i would hate not to get let in. Sorry i could not help

[bucktaker]

<a href="http://s686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/bucktaker1/?action=view&current=DSC00399.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/bucktaker1/DSC00399.jpg" border="0" alt="sundance perch"></a>

checking to see if this pic works

[baitfisher83]

i'd go if i could get there....never had perch before myself...

[baitfisher83]

and no, the pic isnt working...

[Sundancefisher]

It is a private lake. Therefore you need a resident to sign you in. That is why we signed in some people that wanted to help and catch and kill perch.

Fun time for all today. Beautiful weather and lots of fish. We caught 2781 perch ranging from 3 inches to 11 inches.

We caught 123 lake chub

We also caught only 5 trout.

Starting again in the morning at 10 am.

Cheers

Sun

P.S. Thanks to all the volunteers! It was great meeting a few people.

[troller]

checking to see if this pic works

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/bucktaker1/DSC00399.jpg

:)

[Sundancefisher]

And that was just from one trap. The single trap winning record is 1555. The single trap losing record is 198.

What will the count be today?

[Able]

Thank you for haveing me and my famly participate in sundays cull.
The distribution of fish was a litle chaotic but we ware happy with what we got.
We look forword to participateing agan next saterday.

[river_runner]

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/bucktaker1/DSC00399.jpg

:)man that is one massive "fish fry":D

[TreeGuy]

I wish I noticed this one sooner. Perhaps next time.

Sun, try to contact the Calgary Horticulture Society, they may be able to help. Also, try Eagle Lake Nurseries outside of Strathmore, or Ken and Pam from Bow Point Nurseries in Springbank.

I'm donating mulch to a large scale community garden project here in the NW, and they too may be interested. PM for further details if need be. Good on ya.

Tree

[slingshotz]

The distribution of fish was a litle chaotic but we ware happy with what we got.

It was a little better than the distribution on Sat. Still frustrating to have people try and pick out the really big ones when it's supposed to be a fun and free event and you've been on the ground the whole time bonking fish. You shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth so they say, I just scooped up a big handful from the bucket and let the chips land where they may. Didn't get any real big ones but I'll be eating perch for a few weeks yet!

Thanks again to Kevin for making it a enjoyable event. Just wished I lived in the community as I would be out with those traps every couple of days :D

[FisherAlex]

Yeah that was a little crazy, i didn't even bother tryin to get in there haha, got a bunch to use as fertilizer for my mom. It was all good, had a good time helpin out. Ended up goin down to PCR and clear and pulled a 16lb pike just as i was gonna leave, ended up being a great day!! Will try and get pics up once i get them off the ol' lady's cell phone. Maybe see ya out there next saturday if its on again.

Cheers,
Alex

[Sundancefisher]

Unfortunately there are always the greedy ones. I will have to have a sign in sheet and let all the volunteers pick first. Some people snuck in to grab more than there share.

Sigh...at least global warming is officially coming to an end today!

[elkfriend]

I was there on saturday morning, to show my 2 yr old toddler how perch looks like! Unfortunately we did not get the opportunity to take any with us becase we were there relatively early (at 11 am the count was around 400 or so) and the official perch distribution was scheduled for later in the day. We could not stay around, due to a "must attend" kids birthday party - but it was very impressive.

But I noticed that there were lots of folks with their hands in their pockets, (not helping, just watching the volunteers) and big buckets to take home free loot... it seemed a bit odd to me (how can you show up with big bags and buckets, hang out there until the free fish is on and not even help with anything)

Anyways - thank you for inviting people from the forum and for posting this - although we went home fishless, my son had a fantastic time and kept talking about fish for the next 2 days !

[baitfisher83]

is this gonna be happening on future sundays at all??i cant do it on saturdays because i'm working but i'm off sundays

[bucktaker]

what was the count on sunday?

[Badback]

Hey Kevin, whats the total cull count up to now?....I won't be able to make a set or pulling the nets for awhile, but my Townsend Fisher Skinner should be here by the time I 'm free to help out again...I bet if we fillet the litte ones and skin them, it won't be hard to get rid of the...I'll see it I can get one of my boys out to teach him how to filllet...

[BushWacked]

Looks like everyone had a fun time. I'd like to be a part of this in the near future if it will be going for awhile. I've never had perch before and volunteering sounds like fun.

[Sundancefisher]

We caught 2781 perch on Saturday and 1936 perch on Sunday. Traps were in the same locations. I suspect if I put all 4 traps in the prime area as observed with the netting to date we should be able to get closer to 8000 perch over two days...then the question is how to get rid of them all. I also believe perch have now spawned already and actually finished a week ago. Water temp is 10 degrees C and spawning occurs around 8.

Total is up to 6300 in the last two weekends.

I am thinking of leaving the traps in for 2 or 3 days and seeing what the haul is but I would need volunteers in the evening and people to take all the perch home.

Greedy people versus helpful people is always a hard balance. I will need to do a sign in sheet and have a couple of team leads to distribute work loads and then an orderly take of fish or a special volunteer only bucket... Still I have to balance that off with trying to get all the perch to leave the lake. Then we can keep doing this. I also need regular Sundance Residents to do some netting on their own after training as I can not do every weekend.

I tried my best to make sure everyone leaves happy that perch distribution was fair. Some guys took home 1000 little perch but nobody else wanted them.

I would say cleaned and cooked whole the little ones would probably be great on the smoker or cooked on the barbeque with some salted pepper seasoning.

Anyone have some valued tips on how to eat the smaller perch?

Does anyone know any individuals that would be willing to clean perch and do it fast? Boneless filleting. I am thinking a big beer batter perch fry would be a great summer event for volunteers!

Cheers

Sun

[baitfisher83]

if i had any idea how to fillet i would do it..lol....but never really bothered with the trout i've been catching......i wish i lived closer to lake sundance..

[ukrmaf]

I find the best way to clean a large amount of small fish is to make an assembly line, first guy slices behing both gills upto the head and rips the head off which usually takes the guts out too, the second guy cuts down the belly to the back and inserts a butter knife between the skin and flesh right infront of the top fin and run the butter knife all the way down one side, and the other, the third then peels the skin flaps up and rips them away from the flesh, now al that needs to be done is pinch the fins between your knife and thunb and pull them out, if desireable cut the tail of and thats it, you're left with all the meat. Now you can fry them up the way they are and the meat comes off the bones quite nice, or you can grind up all 6300, mix that with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, flower, eggs, bannana peppers and make awesome fish burgers that can be fried up and then you dont have to worry about bones at all. Its an especially great method for kids cause the bones get so ground up that they cant hurt themselves or choke on a bone.

By the way i would like to get involved in the cull aswell, i live in edmonton but have places to stay in calgary on the weekends and wouldnt mind driving down at all, its just an excuse to hit the bass pro shop on the way back. How does a guy register, or is there an emailing list ????????? Just need to know that something will be going on if i head down there.:wave:

[slingshotz]

Did the 10 sec cleaning method and got quite good at it. Take the dorsal fins off, cut the head past the spine and get the skin worked off the flesh slightly. I figured got it down to about a 30 sec clean. It's a little tricky doing the smaller fish as it's easy to cut yourself with the knife while cutting off the dorsal fin.

Buried most of the little guys I took (others are awaiting their fate in the freezer) but I'll need a lot more for my parents garden, I'll have to bring a larger cooler for the little guys next time :)

[Sundancefisher]

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